In our Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD review, we will focus on all the essential details of this SSD from Crucial.
Until today, SATA III SSDs still lead global sales. This is due to their compatibility with older systems and their slightly better capacity and price ratio.
However, smaller and sometimes faster M.2 models are gaining popularity every day. And compared to SATA SSDs, M.2 comes in standard and NVMe types.
We’ve already tested a few NVMe models, but we haven’t focused on the standard M.2 model. Since Crucial released an M.2 version of its MX500 SATA III SSD, we decided to check out how similar it is to its sibling.
Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD Packaging
Let’s start our review of the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD with its packaging and contents.
The Crucial M.2 SSD we received is the 500GB version. Since the MX500 M.2 isn’t a 2.5-inch drive, it doesn’t come in a relatively large enclosure.
Instead, it sits in a smaller plastic clamshell holder, making it easy to transport. However, the downside is that there is no room to showcase the player’s features.
The accessories included in the package are pretty standard for Crucial products. Instead of having the 2.5mm adapter, the company added two M.2 mounting screws in the box.
Often, motherboard manufacturers include only one mounting screw. But Crucial knows that these screws tend to get lost, so they added a backup for the backup screw.
It’s not a bad decision and we appreciate what Crucial did there. This is a great example of how Crucial values customer satisfaction.
They are willing to go the extra mile to ensure users are happy and have user-friendly devices. This is also why the company included a lite version of Acronis True Image.
Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD Review – Design and Functionality
This section of our Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD review focuses on SSD design and functions.
The Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD features the same type and number of NAND integrated circuits. It also comes with the same amount of onboard RAM as the 2.5-inch version.
There is, however, a difference between the two. To fit each component into the M.2 format, the company used the classic double-sided M.2 2280 layout. This is in comparison to using a single-sided type.
This simply means that it’s a 22mm (l) x 80mm (w) stick that has chips on either side of its PCB. This is a layout compared to the single-sided version which only has chips on one side.
Typically, only a few people will find themselves in a situation where this drive does not fit on their motherboard. The most likely scenario people may run into is where an M.2 port is not tied to a PCH (peripheral controller hub) or south bridge.
SSD design
There is not much to say about the design of the MX500 M.2 since it is generally an M.2 module. Its 2280 form factor allows installation in many modern systems with SATA-compatible M.2 slots.
The included full-coverage Crucial sticker placed on the top side gives the drive a great appearance when installed. With up to 500 GB for this format, you can easily keep large game libraries in an SFF or size-limited configuration.
Next up in our Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD review is the key features of the M.2 SSD.
Key Features of the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD
This part of our Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD goodbye will focus on the main features of the player.
Provide high speed for better productivity
With the MX500 M.2 SSD, you can boot your system in seconds, quickly load files, and use demanding applications. Its Dynamic Write Acceleration technology uses an adjustable pool of high-speed flash memory.
Featuring single-cell flash memory, this M.2 SSD also generates blazing speed.
Storage for lots of data
No matter how many media files you store, they will all remain secure. You’ll be ready to share your data with ease and convenience.
Highly efficient next-generation Micron 3D NAND
The components used for the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD are designed to be efficient. Thus, it consumes minimal energy while offering high value for money. You won’t need a financial plan for this either.
Once you set up your build with the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD, you can enjoy fast, cool, and quiet performance.
Upgrade with an efficient drive
With all the testing it has undergone, the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD has proven its effectiveness. Additionally, it has all the advanced features that MX series SSDs are known for. These ensure that you can store your files safely and keep them safe on the SSD.
Install with ease and confidence
Many people think that opening a computer to transfer data is terrifying. Crucial offers a step-by-step installation guide for new users to easily install their SSD. Every data will be fully transferred without any problem.
Micron – A higher level of reliability
The Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD has excellent features and advanced technologies that make it a very reliable drive. It also benefits from the same quality and technical innovation used over the past 35 years. So, it delivers the speed and reliability you need for the most demanding tasks.
Crucial is one of the largest flash storage manufacturers in the world, which is another reason why many people trust this brand. For the MX500 M.2 SSD, you can ensure that it will perform efficiently and deliver what you need.
Warranty and Returns
Micron builds its professional-level quality and reliability into all of its SSDs. The company puts each product through thousands of hours of pre-market validation to produce award-winning SSDs. For this reason, the company is confident in offering a 3-5 year warranty on its products.
Although it’s rare for customers to return Crucial products, the company still offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Features
Keep reading our Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD review to get information about its specifications.
The MX500 SSD uses the M.2 2280 form factor and has a capacity of 500 GB. Its sequential reads and writes are 560 MB/s and 510 MB/s respectively, with a SATA 6.0 GB/s interface. s.
Additionally, the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD is backed by an impressive 5-year warranty.
Practical with the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD
Now we become more involved Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD goodbye. This is to see if the SSD performs as efficiently as Crucial claims.
Overall, the MX500 M.2 offers fantastic performance for a price that delivers consistent results. This is one of the areas where this M.2 SSD stands out from other drives on the market.
Overall, the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD isn’t just great performer. It features better endurance figures than its predecessors, a mean time between failures of 1.8 million hours, and a 5-year warranty for added convenience.
Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD Review Summary
For the MX500 M.2 SSD, Crucial only added the great features. One of them is the integrated NAND protection against power failure. Although power outage protection is not new, it was previously integrated via additional hardware in previous products.
Older SSD products featured M.2 modules, which caused space issues when building a computer. Now with the MX500 M.2 SSD, power loss protection is built into the NAND chip with integrated circuits.
Another great feature of this SSD is dynamic write acceleration. It dynamically uses the SSD’s native NAND array without compromising user addressable capacity. Additionally, advancements in Micron NAND technology enable on-the-fly acceleration of SSD firmware.
The MX500 M.2 SSD switches between TLC and SLC modes. This involves forming a high-throughput SLC pool that adjusts size and location based on usage conditions.
Additionally, it is suitable for many builds due to its small size. With this M.2 SSD, you can save a lot of space without using SATA power and data cables.
Additionally, the MX500 M.2 SSD comes with a bonus, namely Acronis True Image HD. This cloning software makes it easy to upgrade new SSD.
In conclusion of our review of the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD, we highly recommend this SSD drive. Its small form factor and performance make it one of the best M.2 SSDs today. If you want the Crucial MX500 M.2 SSD, it is available on the official website.